Surprise: North Korean rocket launch deployed satellite into orbit

"In Pyongyang, North Koreans clinked beer mugs and danced in the streets to celebrate the country's first satellite in space. In Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, leaders pushed for consequences for Wednesday's successful rocket launch, widely seen as a test that takes the country one step closer to being capable of lobbing nuclear bombs over the Pacific. ... The North American Aerospace Defense Command confirmed that 'initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit.'" (12/12/12)